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'Coming up to Christmas just adds to this tragedy' - US family visiting Ireland for a funeral killed in horror crash

'Coming up to Christmas just adds to this tragedy' - US family visiting Ireland for a funeral killed in horror crash A garda near the scene of the crash just off the N25 between New Ross and Ballinaboola, Co Wexford. Photo: Patrick Browne

Ralph Riegel Twitter Email

December 5 2017 2:30 AM

Four members of the same family from the US died in a horrific crash just hours after arriving in the country.

A couple in their 70s, and their two sons aged in their 40s, died when their car was in collision with a articulated lorry on the main New Ross to Wexford road at around 6.30pm yesterday.

The four are all believed to be from Illinois and had flown into Shannon Airport earlier yesterday for the funeral of a relative in Co Wexford.

It is understood their car was travelling in convoy with another car at the time of the crash.

The collision was so severe that a portion of their car was crushed underneath the truck.

An entire section of the N25 road was closed to allow for a major operation by Wexford emergency services.

Locals described the scene as "absolutely horrific" with debris scattered all over the roadside.

GardaÃ­, New Ross Fire Brigade and a fleet of ambulances raced to the scene of the crash just off the N25 between Cushinstown and Begern Cross on the New Ross to Ballinaboola road.

Paramedics desperately tried to stabilise the condition of two critically injured people. However, two others were pronounced dead immediately.

They are understood to have been trapped in the car when emergency services arrived.

The other two casualties died before they could be transferred to University Hospital Waterford.

The lorry driver and his passenger avoided serious injury, although the driver was treated at the scene for severe shock.

Driving conditions were described as reasonable at the time, although visibility was somewhat restricted by mist and drizzle.

Local parish priest Fr Sean Devereux said the family who died was due to attend a funeral at the Church of St Mary in Cushinstown this morning.

"We're just very shocked and saddened. The whole community is numbed by this tragedy.

"The people who died were coming to attend a funeral here.

"It's terrible that someone in America now has to hear this news coming through from so far away."

Local Fine Gael Councillor Willie Fitzharris said it appeared both vehicles had been travelling in the same direction when the crash happened.

"Obviously it's terrible and my heart really goes out to the family of the victims. It seemed the two vehicles involved were travelling in the same direction as each other. The whole town is just shocked and horrified.

"I was at a meeting in New Ross this evening and saw five ambulances arrive at the scene," he added.

"It's very difficult to understand how this could have happened but there has been a few minor accidents in the vicinity in recent times. Coming up to Christmas just adds to this tragedy."

Ir ish Independent

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